Pop walks into Liverpool, a scarf, a brooch,
a chunk of wood.
Safety pins holding up his socks,
socks "beyond repair".
He is proud, but I cannot be as strong.
All my dignity has left me.
Safety pins to hold up his pride.
One in each sock, around the top.
Pop walks into Liverpool, to save the bus fare.
I have walked until the blisters bled,
not knowing why I had tried so hard too hurt myself.
I know that I was very angry
& that my shoes were cheap.
There is a lot of pain inside.
I look to the foreheads of people,
or straight past them. I cannot feel.
My mouth set firm, adopting lines
to save my lip from trembling.
Pop walks into Liverpool
with safety pins holding up his socks,
with this queer determination in him.
He nearly got robbed.
He said to the assailant,
'Why don't you get a good decent job, you bludger
& a haircut, now scoot!'
I think he is lucky.
One day if he's not careful,
he will be found in the gutter,
like my cousin at Glebe.
No one really knows
what happened to him.
He was pushed from a unit window
& found in a pool of his own blood.
Never had safety pins, to hold him together.
